Just nine years ago, Luton Town finished as the champions of what is now known as the Vanarama National League, the fifth tier of English football. Nearly a decade later and Luton have risen through the EFL to find themselves in one of the biggest leagues in the world.
For the first time in their history Luton will compete in the Premier League. The club has played in the top flight before and they were last in the division in 1991-92, just before the inception of the Premier League. The Hatters suffered relegation that season, as they finished 20th in the old First Division.
Despite Luton being newcomers to the Premier League next season, they have known success in their history, most famously when they won the English League Cup (EFL Cup) in 1988, defeating Arsenal 3-2 in the final thanks to a Brian Stein winner in the 90th minute! Luton defeated Wigan Athletic, Coventry City, Ipswich Town, Bradford City, Oxford United and finally Arsenal on their route to the cup victory in ‘88.
The following season, Luton reached the final again however they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Luton’s Kenilworth Road is currently undergoing development to make sure that the ground reaches the correct requirements to facilitate Premier League football. The iconic little ground has a capacity of 10,356 and will host its first Premier league match on August 17th.
The club’s manager Rob Edwards has done a spectacular job since joining the Hatters, taking the job in November 2022 after being sacked by Watford earlier in the season. Edwards (aged 40) will now be up against some of the top managers in the world, such as Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp.
Luton will be looking into confirming the permanent signings of Marvellous Nakamba and Cody Drameh, after both players had successful seasons at the club in 2022-23. The club have been already linked with a number of potential transfers, as the Hatters are rumoured to be interested in recently relegated player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The box-to-box midfielder is one of a handful of players set to move away from Leicester City this summer and Kenilworth Road could potentially be his new home. Former Manchester United winger Tahith Chong is also being rumoured with a move to the play-off final winners.
Luton Town will face Europa League side Brighton away from home in their first match of the season and will host Burnley at home in their second match. Then Rob Edwards’ side will face a triple-header of London sides, as they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, followed by a home clash against Europa Conference League winners West Ham and a trip to Craven Cottage in their fifth game of the Premier League season.
The bookmakers have Luton down as one of the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League, but they certainly won’t throw the towel in easily and will surely put up a fight throughout the season. For anyone who loves an underdog story they are certain to be wishing The Hatters well on their return to the big time, as they take on the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and European Champions Manchester City.
